Calgary doctor disputes latest study on Type 2 diabetes treatment
CBC News | Posted: September 16, 2016 12:26 PM | Last Updated: September 16, 2016
Calgary endocrinologist Dr. David Lau says the study out of the Mayo Clinic is misleading
A Calgary doctor says diabetic patients shouldn't stop taking their medication just because a new study suggests they don't work.
The study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. suggests it may be time to rethink the way Type 2 diabetes is treated, concluding in a published journal that there isn't enough evidence to show monitoring blood sugar level and using drugs to keep levels under control works.
Calgary endocrinologist Dr. David Lau says the study is misleading.
"I can point out some of the shortcomings," said Lau, who is the editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Diabetes.
The new paper concludes that regulating blood sugar levels doesn't appear to reduce serious complications such as kidney failure and even death. But Dr. Lau says there is evidence — it just wasn't included in this report — and that's worrisome.
"You have to look at diabetes disease as a whole and look at the totality of the evidence and not just cherry picking," he said.
"This paper could have... potentially very negative effects in terms of diabetes management, because you know people will walk away and say, 'well you know sugar control doesn't help people with diabetes, period.' That is a very scary message."
The Canadian Diabetes Association also issued a statement urging people not to stop taking their medications. It says over the past two decades, seen complications such as heart attacks, stroke and amputations have dropped more than 50 per cent.
The association recommends patients work closely with their physicians to determine their best treatment method.
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